CARACAS Oct 17 (Reuters) - Venezuelan state oil company
PDVSA is to extend the second deadline for a $5.3 billion bond
swap offer to Friday and says if unsuccessful, it "could be
difficult" to pay existing debt.

The cash-strapped company has already extended the deadline
twice and said it received "substantially less" offers than a
key requirement of needing more than 50 percent participation to
go through. (goo.gl/o6jJlr)

"If the Exchange Offers are not successful, it could be
difficult for the Company to make scheduled payments on its
existing debt ... which would result in the Company evaluating
all alternative options," PDVSA said in a statement.

The company added that low oil prices would "impair" its
"ability to make scheduled payments on its existing debt."

President Nicolas Maduro has long insisted that Venezuela
and PDVSA would honor all debt payments and has harshly
criticized as politically motivated any talk of default.